Sailboat Selection Advice

[Sawyers Island]

Hi-I'm new to this forum and looking for some input on a sailboat with the following criteria:

Daysailer between 16' and 20'
Low maintenance
Fast
Can be crewed by one person
Self-bailing
Stable
Keel
Provision (motor mount e.g.) for propulsion

I'll be sailing the coast of Maine in the Boothbay area and have some sailing experience (not a novice but certainly not a master). The boat will be on a mooring May-October and stored on a trailer. I'm leaning toward a Precision 185K-any advice either pro, con, or alternative model would be most welcome.

Thanks,

[Glenn.Brooks]

Recently googled sailboats also ‘sailing’ and was surprised to find a number of day sailing sites - associates and boat owners groups in the same classification you are asking about. Might be a good idea to just do an internet search by boat classification - see what turns up in your area. Also Craigslist seems to have a fair number of small draft for sale.

[nightowle]

Are you looking for new or used? Price range? Being new to sailing, I don't believe it's so much which brand or exact size if buying used. Get the best cared-for boat and trailer for the money. Check for leaks, bad cracks, soft delaminated areas, and the condition of the sails. Fresh, crisp sails is what I'd be looking for. A galvanized trailer is better than a steel one, but I wouldn't be limited by that alone.

[Sawyers Island]

Probably used-around the $10K range.

[JimsCAL]

The classic choice would be the Rhodes 19.

[Sawyers Island]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

The classic choice would be the Rhodes 19.

I considered a Rhodes but I'm a little concerned about buoyancy-I'm told they sink like a stone if capsized and they are a little on the slow side.

[Glenn.Brooks]

You can always go a little larger. 20’-25’ trailerable boat with nice cabin and coastal cruising capability. MERIT 25’ have sailed across oceans. Lots of options out there.

[gonesail]

definitely the precision 185

[JimsCAL]

Originally Posted by Sawyers Island

I considered a Rhodes but I'm a little concerned about buoyancy-I'm told they sink like a stone if capsized and they are a little on the slow side.

Any keelboat that capsizes and fills with water is going to sink like a stone. Yes the R19 is an old design so slower than something newer but still a good boat to learn on and price is likely to be right. Your budget means you are looking at used boats as new ones will be well above $10k. Two newer and higher performance choices that can come within the budget (though a bit bigger) are the Sonar and J22.

[Stu Jackson]

Many of us here have had smaller bats earlier in our lives. IO had a Catalina 22 and a 25.


Folks on the sbo forum generally own smaller boats and may also be able to help you:
https://sbo.sailboatowners.com/recent-fx.php

[Time2Go]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

The classic choice would be the Rhodes 19.

Similar to the Rhodes19
would be an O’Day Mariner
Great little boat with an active user group.
Cheers
Neil

[Sawyers Island]

Originally Posted by gonesail

definitely the precision 185

Thanks

[Sawyers Island]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

Any keelboat that capsizes and fills with water is going to sink like a stone. Yes the R19 is an old design so slower than something newer but still a good boat to learn on and price is likely to be right. Your budget means you are looking at used boats as new ones will be well above $10k. Two newer and higher performance choices that can come within the budget (though a bit bigger) are the Sonar and J22.

That kind of summarizes my attraction to the Precision 185K. It's self-righting and open transom so I don't think it can sink.